JD 350 steering problem HELP!

[race_2222]

Hello all. I'm new here. I just bought a 350 crawler loader with a diesel. I kinda got flambuskulled when I bought it. When I got it home found it needed alot more repairs then orginally told. Anyway. My major problem is the left hand steering clutch is froze up. Won't engage at all. Had water in the oil when drained the final drive. So I currenlty have the drive housing off and went to pull out the clutch and cannot. It must be frozen on to the pinion shaft. I have all the books, have been researching here and elswhere before I tore in to it. One person suggested to keep spraying diesel fuel on the throw out bearing area to posssibly loosen it. I made a homade puller reinstalled the outer drive bearing figuring I would have to sacrafice it> Could not pop it loose. Not sure if I can get a torch in there on the shaft area, would be tough to get heat right on it. Any ideas? If I do get it out, what can I expect?

I'm also in need of a set of track links or would consider a good used set of complete tracks. Has anyone ever installed Titan's rubber tracks on one of these? Any suggestions?
Otherwise the machine runs good, The right side steering works, I hope there are no more surprises. I bought it to do some work on an acreage.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[pdmech08]

Race: What series 350 are you working on?

[race_2222]

Model # is T43ED Serial # is 098077T I've been soaking the area around the throw out bearing for a couple days now with penetrating fluid. Tried my puller again and still can't budge it. Right now I've decided to leave pressure on the puller for a day or so while I continue to soak it. Any help here would be very appreciated. Its become very frustrating.

[Lavoy]

Vibration will sometimes do it as well, if you have an air hammer, vibrate the piece, or the surrounding area.
I have steering clutches on hand, and can get you new rails, pads, etc if you decide to go that way.
Lavoy

[dale]

I made a homade puller reinstalled the outer drive bearing figuring I would have to sacrafice it> Could not pop it loose. Not sure if I can get a torch in there on the shaft area, would be tough to get heat right on it. Any ideas? If I do get it out, what can I expect?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Got some pictures of mine here http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/dalet_photos/

Probably a dumb question, did you loosen/remove the brakeband?

[race_2222]

I've actually got alot of the brake parts and linkage remove to help gain some access. So far after soaking, heating, soaking and heating some more, I can now see about 1/2" of the shaft. My puller gave out so I need to sit down and make a new heavier one. Its the only way I can think of to put enough pulling presure on it . I'm not sure if the clutch is coming off the shaft or the shaft is coming out of the differential??? Its amazing that since I've moved it some, that it doesn't break free... I'll keep you posted. Again, any ideas are greatly appreciated.

[dale]

Ok, so how about pulling the opposite side, then "driving out" the frozen side from behind ?

[race_2222]

Well it wasn't very pretty, but I did finally get it out. By pulling out on the hub, this spread the pressure plate webing. This gave me enough access to get in there with the torch and snip off each arm of the plate allowing to remove the outer hub and leave the center gear on the shaft. I then used a gear puller on it and man was it froze on to that shaft. It took alot of heat and alot of tork on the puller to snap it loose. I did end up buggering up the end of the shaft where it slips in to the pilot bearing. But I'm hoping I can touch it up with a grinder. The next step is to try to free up the shaft that moves the throw out bearing, Its rusted solid.